TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

O'DONNELL ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1996, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with
the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University, administered a survey to students
in grades 8, 10, and 12 in the O'Donnell Independent School District (OISD). A total of 94
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 6 surveys were excluded from analysis because students did not indicate
their grade or age, or because they were identified as exaggerators (i.e., claimed to have used a
non-existent drug or reported overly excessive drug use). The final number of surveys included
in the overall district analysis was 88.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Eighty-one* percent of O'Donnell ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 49* percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

• Twenty-three* percent of O'Donnell ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a

daily basis, while 1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily
basis.

• Eighty-five percent of O'Donnell ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 53 percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).

1
The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables
found in "Part I: District Survey Results." Due to the differences in rounding procedures,
there may be slight discrepancies between the percentages referred to in the tables and
those reflected in the executive summary and in the corresponding figures. Figures
referenced throughout this report are included in "Part III: Executive Summary."

2
Data in this report marked with an asterisk are estimated to be statistically significant
at the .01 level from the comparable data for the state as a whole. This means that in
only one of a hundred samples would a difference this large have occurred when there
was no difference between the district and state data. Differences in very small districts
will seldom be statistically significant due to the small number of cases. Differences that
are not marked may be important, but should be treated with more caution than those
that are statistically significant.

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• Thirty-five* percent of O'Donnell ISD 10th and 12th grade students said they had
driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good bit to drink"
(Fig. 11).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 25 percent of O'Donnell ISD students (Fig.
1), while past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

• Fifty* percent of O'Donnell ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 27 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• O'Donnell ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (74 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in
school (28 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general
use of tobacco products among O'Donnell ISD students, especially with regard to cigarettes, is
higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Eighty-one* percent of O'Donnell students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 58 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). 4 Forty-nine* percent of
O'Donnell ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, nearly
twice the rate reported by students statewide (28 percent) (Fig. 2).

Seventy-nine* percent of O'Donnell students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (56 percent statewide), and 47* percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (26 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.
Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 23* percent of district students (9 percent
statewide), and 49* percent of said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (22 percent
statewide), more than double the rates reported by their peers statewide.

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 23 percent of OISD students (18
percent statewide), while 8 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (6 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was

3
Statewide data is collected every other year. The statewide data used for comparison
purposes in the district report and executive summary is taken from the results of the
survey administered in the Spring of 1996.

4
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade
comparisons can be made.

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reported by 1 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 1 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the O'Donnell ISD.
Alcohol use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has decreased slightly from that
reported two years ago. Overall, O'Donnell ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates higher
than those reported by their peers statewide.

Eighty-five percent of O'Donnell students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 76 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Fifty-three percent of O'Donnell
ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate higher than that
reported by students statewide (40 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by O'Donnell students are beer (75* percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (63 percent/62 percent statewide). Fifty-three* percent of
OISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis, in contrast to the 35 percent
reported by their counterparts statewide. Forty percent of district students said they drink wine
coolers weekly or monthly (32 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. OISD students are "binge drinking" beer and wine coolers at rates
considerably higher than those reported by their peers statewide. Fifty-nine* percent of
O'Donnell ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (40
percent statewide), while 37* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on
average when they drink (21 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was
reported by 58* percent of OISD students (41 percent statewide), while 32 percent said they
usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent
statewide).

Eight percent of O'Donnell students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Thirty-five* percent of OISD 10th and 12th
grade students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" at least once
during the past year, nearly twice the rate reported by 10th and 12th grade students statewide (18
percent). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 15
percent of district 10th and 12th graders, triple the rate reported by 10th and 12th graders
statewide (5 percent) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Seventy-seven percent of O'Donnell ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (79 percent statewide). Sixty-one* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), while 57
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or

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always (42 percent statewide), and 22* percent reported "difficulties of any kind" with friends
because of one's own drinking (10 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by
students statewide.

Sixty-eight* percent of O'Donnell students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13), and 59 percent responded "at
parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (46 percent statewide),
rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide. Eighteen percent of OISD students
said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (19 percent statewide).

Students were asked how many days during the school year they were absent from class due to
an illness or for some other reason, and how many days they had gotten into trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. Fewer OISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (36 percent/27 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (59 percent/47 percent
statewide). Seventy-eight percent of the O'Donnell students who had experienced difficulties
with school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (65
percent statewide). By contrast, 44 percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30
days (27 percent statewide).

Parental attitudes can be a major factor in whether or not a student uses alcohol or drugs. When
asked how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer, 73 percent of O'Donnell students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Nine percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (8
percent statewide), and 12 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants5

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners, correction fluid, glue, etc.)
which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce an intoxicating effect. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide stayed about the same.
Overall, O'Donnell ISD students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported
by their counterparts statewide.

5
Lifetime and current inhalant use figures have been adjusted to reflect reported use
of both specific inhalants and inhalant use generally. Some students responded positive
to specific use without responding positive to generic use. Some students responded
positive to generic use but not specific inhalants.

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Twenty-five percent of O'Donnell students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Six percent of O'Donnell ISD students said they had
used inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

One percent of OISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide). Seven percent of OISD students said they had attended at least one class during the
past school year while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide), and 16 percent said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (11 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by O'Donnell students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (15 percent), nearly twice the rate reported by students statewide (9 percent). Ten percent
of district students said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 9 percent
reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), 8 percent said they had inhaled glue (5 percent
statewide), 7 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent
statewide), and 6 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (3 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana, cocaine (powdered form
and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers (narcotics), hallucinogens, and ecstasy. Over the last
two years, the use of illicit drugs among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has
increased. The use of marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased
among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders statewide over the last two years.

In the O'Donnell ISD, 51* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (36 percent statewide), while 36 percent of OISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (27 percent statewide), rates higher than those
reported by their peers statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 2.4 times in the past 30 days and 7.0 times during their lives.
O'Donnell students reported average usage rates of 3.1 times in the past month and 7.6 times
during their lifetimes.

Fifty* percent of OISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (33 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 27 percent of O'Donnell ISD students, in contrast to the 17
percent reported by students statewide (Fig. 2).

Seventeen percent of OISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (13 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 32* percent of O'Donnell ISD 10th and 12th
grade students, nearly three times the rate reported by 10th and 12th grade students statewide
(13 percent).

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Sixty-six percent of OISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (56
percent statewide), and 31 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (22
percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide.
Eleven percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their
friends because of their own drug use (7 percent statewide). Thirty-four percent of the
O'Donnell ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the
parties they attended during the school year, compared to 25 percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, O'Donnell students reported a
disapproval rate of 90 percent (87 percent statewide). Four percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent statewide),
while 1 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of O'Donnell ISD students. Eleven percent of
OISD students reported using uppers (9 percent statewide), 9 percent said they had used
powdered cocaine (7 percent statewide), 8 percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide),
3 percent reported using crack (3 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (8 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the O'Donnell ISD, male students were nearly twice as likely to have used powdered
cocaine or uppers and over two times more likely to have used downers than were district female
students. In addition, OISD male students were the only reported users of steroids in the district.
On the other hand, female students in the O’Donnell ISD were the only reported users of
hallucinogens or ecstasy in the district. There were no other significant differences by gender
among OISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, or
marijuana.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of O'Donnell students said they would seek help from their friends (74 percent/76 percent
statewide). Seventy-six* percent of OISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (58 percent). Fifty
percent of O'Donnell students said they would turn to their parents for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a
counselor or program in school (28 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began
in the Fall, 12 percent of O'Donnell students reported seeking help for any problems connected
with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6 percent statewide).

Ninety-four* percent of O'Donnell ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, in contrast to the 73 percent
reported by their peers statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 87* percent of

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district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent statewide),
while 66* percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent
statewide), rates considerably higher than those reported by students statewide. Twenty-four*
percent of OISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health
class," nearly half the rate reported by students statewide (43 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-eight percent of O'Donnell students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 88 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-eight percent of OISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 62 percent believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (58 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 40 percent of OISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (43
percent statewide), while 27 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (36 percent
statewide) (Fig. 13).